Modern "plague" or unwelcome sexual advances. What is the "harassment" of the 21st century?

Relationship to you others largely depends on the purpose for which they have surrounded you. Today we want to talk about unwelcome sexual attention for us, that is such a concept as "harassment." We try to understand what is this "beast" so as to know him where he is "usual", and how to deal with it.

What is it?

Harassment - sexual activity, affecting the dignity of another person, since they are unwanted and are made without prior consent. That is harassment can also be called a variety of types of psychological harassment - any actions that put the victim in an awkward position, insult and humiliate her dignity.

According to the international organization "Catalyst", which deals with the protection of women's rights, with the harassment faced by not only women but also men, albeit to a lesser extent. Allegations of harassment of a sexual nature serves about 18% of men. To date, only in America is paid more than a billion dollars annually for the damage from harassment moral damages.

In the

Unfortunately, with the harassment faced not only stars in the acclaimed story of Harvey Weinstein. Harassment in the workplace - this is a sad reality every second to say each of the first woman in modern times. The level of sexual aggression and the aggressor's demands may be different and vary from small "gamy" comments about the figure, the length of the skirt and the size of the breast, to the serious demands sex in exchange for the right position, or the imposition of non-plan your intimate relationship.

The origins of

And the purpose and methods of pressure on the victim are different. Sometimes it happens that the harasser in a way trying to make a romantic relationship from a man whose plans are absolutely not included for sex with him. Recall that the aggressor and this, in all other cases, the harassment can be both male and female.

The most common aggressor enjoys his power and the ability to break the boundaries of others, reveling in their own superiority. Clarify that such harassment is only possible in a relationship where there is a hierarchy - between teachers and students, between doctor and patient - anywhere backdown is fraught with problems for the victim of such attention, because it is in a known unfavorable conditions. That is, either the victim agrees to infringe on its rights and dignity of the requirements or falls into the "black list" and what this means, probably, it is known to all of us.

The difference between sexual harassment from household rudeness

Let us consider a simple example of harassment contrast to the usual (and, unfortunately, familiar to our reality) rudeness. So, for example, in the subway car, where in the morning you drive to work, tumble merry company, clearly not heated by a single bottle of beer, and these drunken peasants begin to loudly tell obscene jokes, or let your about dirty jokes and compliments. This is - a sign of rudeness and bad education, but not a clear violation of the law.

But all the same - anecdotes, jokes, greasy compliments, hints of sex, tweaks and indecent proposals - on the part of your head already regarded as harassment. By the way, all this does not mean that your boss in this case does not apply and an additional definition - "ham".

Does the law persecuted?

In 1975, the first case of harassment, and since then has worked out a whole system of actions for the prevention of crime (it seems quite appropriate to a definition of such activities) has been considered in the United States. So, according to this system, we must first send a notice to the aggressor on the inadmissibility of actions or pressure exerted by them to take them, then going to a special commission, following a meeting which the disciplinary action shall be elected.

In severe cases, possible criminal prosecution. In schools the practice of direct prohibition of the relationship between teacher and student. In Russia, it is governed by Article 133 of the Criminal Code, providing for liability for compulsion to sexual intercourse and sexual acts by means of blackmail, threats or use of the material according to the victim. The penalty provided for in Article fines or forced labor.

What sacrifice?

First of all, do not brush off and not to think that something you dreamed. If you feel the pressure, and your borders are routinely violated, then there is harassment, and you can not let things take their course. The aggressor each time will become more active and assertive. Therefore, first of all, fix all cases of harassment. Save SMS, taped, filmed.

And even if it does not serve for the police it is strong evidence to spoil the reputation of the aggressor you can. And, as a rule, they are afraid of not less than the legal liability. So remember that your pursuer is not omnipotent, and you are absolutely not to blame for what is happening. The main thing is do not be silent, with the support of friends and family, do not be afraid to ask for help.